I'm sure most of us can admit to having received spam mail detailing the wonders of diet patches. And, yes, most of us delete ads like that for good reason. We realize that spam mail is often sensationalized, exaggerated, or simply false. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as permanent fat loss that can be achieved with a patch.

Manufacturers saw the success of other transdermal patches for hormonal replacement and nicotine patches, so some believed that effective weight loss could be achieved by the same means as well.

Luckily, many of these diet patch companies that we have all heard about at one point or another are tied up in lawsuits due to their false and unsubstantiated weight loss claims. One site that I came across doesn't even provide information as to what is in their patch, while others state that algae is the secret ingredient which can possibly aid in weight loss, as well as inhibit vitamin B12 absorption. As of yet, I still don't know what the "active ingredient " is in many of these patches. At most, I read something about vague "herbal properties" not really knowing what that means. And, people, just because something is herbal doesn't mean that it won't elicit any unwanted side effects in certain scenarios. You've been forewarned.

Many diet patches claim to do various things. They claim to control appetite, stimulate the metabolism, nourish the muscular system, eliminate toxins, reduce water retention, and reduce fatigue, just to name a few. Quite frankly, it almost sounds like they are selling these patches as if to serve as a panacea and cure all ailments. Everyone wants a quick fix for every sort of problem. No one is immune to it. It comes with the territory with being an American.

Everything thing we own has to be the best, the fastest, the strongest, and the prettiest. Waiting is an abomination and expediency is king. So, it comes as no surprise as to why these "cure-all" products exist. Just don't buy them. There is no better way to lose weight than to eat right and exercise regularly. All of these patches state that their product is 100% safe and can be used in conjunction with any kind of prescribed medication. To me, that seems like a dangerous claim. Now some patches claim that the fat loss is permanent, while others properly claim that overeating is what leads to obesity and that this is a factor that needs to be addressed in order for the fat loss to be permanent. Unfortunately, the claims for one of the patches that falls into the latter category also contradict themselves on the same page. While they assert that their patch stops hunger and curbs the appetite, which results in a smaller stomach over time, they also make the irrational claim that their users don't have to be conscious of their diet while they are on the patch.

Thus, you can eat whatever foods you like, but once you get off of the patch, you will quickly come to realize that you have no sense of self-control and will ultimately gain every pound back. Another problem with these patches is the projected weight loss. No fitness professional would ever advocate losing as much as 10 lbs of fat per week as some of these companies do.

Most agree that 1-3 pounds is probably about as much as one could safely lose within a week, unless, of course, you are being strictly monitored by a doctor. Amazingly, one patch even advocates use during pregnancy.

Now, I'm not a doctor but I'm pretty sure that a woman needs to gain weight during pregnancy and not aim to lose weight. That recommendation alone illustrates the fallacy of these products and the foolhardiness of the companies that boast these claims, which are unhealthy at best and a blatant lie at worst. Keep your distance from these.